I’m an Infinite Regressor, But I’ve Got Stories to Tell

22

What does it mean to trust another person?

To be honest with you all, I've lived far too long, longer than I ever should have. Seeing the [First Iteration Undertaker] made it even clearer—I have surpassed the standard human lifespan by a ridiculous amount.

Calling me just an old man feels lacking. I'm something beyond ancient, having transcended the very notion of age. The concept of old age gets redefined daily because of me.

Seventies? Eighties? Oh, please. Compared to me, they're practically toddlers.

Think about it. Even Schopenhauer, the old philosopher, might want to come back from his 'vacation' now, but he'd be too daunted to even try.

If those old philosophers like Confucius or Mencius knew, they wouldn't dare raise their heads in front of me, a mere child in their eyes. Could they?

I trusted Cheon-hwa.

I also believed in Cheon Yo-hwa.

Trusting another person—at a certain point, it became synonymous with trusting a child for me.

I wished for them to grow well.

Even if they didn't, it was fine. As long as they stayed safe. As long as they got along well with their beloved family—.

To me, trusting someone was the same as declaring my responsibility for them.

So, after returning from the thousand-and-one-night dreams within dreams, I rushed to the tombstone on Babel Tower's rooftop to spill the beans to Cheon-hwa.

“Cheon-hwa! Despite several mishaps, I succeeded. Your sister's subconscious now holds some vague feelings and longing for her lost sister!”

“……”

“I bet no psychiatrist could alleviate a pathological condition this much. Honestly, where would you two sisters be without me?”

“……”

“Yo-hwa is busy reuniting with her pupils, but I’ll bring her by in about a week. This time, you two sisters will have a proper reunion!”

“Thanks, senior. I really appreciate it.”

Cheon-hwa's red eyes narrowed.

“So, you spent several years in the dream pretending to be me, with my appearance and my mannerisms, acting like a prestigious family's daughter, even speaking respectfully in front of others?”

“Well, yes.”

“That is disgusting.”

“……”

“Disgusting! Senior!”

Cheon-hwa glared at me with genuine contempt and turned her upper body away, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

'I see.'

Kids do go through rebellious phases sometimes.

This too was just the backlash of trusting someone.

I nodded my head and summoned the aura to form a shape on my skin's surface, crafting orange hair and red eyes with a sly smile.

On-the-spot, Cheon-hwa exclusive perfected disguise!

“Ah. Hello?”

Then, I took out a fan I'd prepared and snapped it open.

Refinement and grace. Those two words existed precisely to describe the present 'me.'

“This is Cheon-hwa.”

“What!”

“Oh, dear. I wish father would just drop dead... if only I could show him a traditional Korean filial duty, perhaps my sister would breathe a little easier.”

“Nooooo!”

“Senior. Please turn me――, into a happy human being.”

“Screeeech!”

“Yes. I think I’m quite happy now.”

“Die! Just die, senior! Please just die! Really, really! That’s disgusting! Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! Please die――.”

Playing with a child is always fun!

Chapter 23

Not long after Cheon-hwa's turbulent one-day period of rebellious adolescence had passed.

Finally, the historic reunion of the separated twin sisters took place.

“…You’re my sister, they say.”

Reunion.

They met again, just like the word suggests.

In the previous iteration, I had forced a face-to-face meeting between the sisters, but it ended in disaster due to Yo-hwa’s outburst, effectively ruining that iteration.

This time, however, with a more thorough plan using the privileges of a regressor, leaving no stone unturned.

Was it the result of those efforts finally shining?

“…Even though I don’t remember, I do have a mysterious impression that someone was with me when I was young.”

Unlike before, Yo-hwa's expression was more thoughtful.

Last time, it felt like she was trying to get along due to my request, her responses more about me than her sister.

Now, however, it was different. She was genuinely contemplating the existence of a ‘twin sister.’

□.

Like someone sitting at a desk discovering a bruise of unknown origin on their arm one day.

Yo-hwa was finally able to clearly gaze at the □ lodged in her heart.

“Actually.”

“……”

“I did think it was strange.”

Yo-hwa murmured.

Even someone like me or Cheon-hwa, who would've usually led the conversation, held back this time, awaiting her response.

Because forcing an empty dialogue would only lead to a grim failure.

‘I’ve done everything I could from my end.’

All information was disclosed to Yo-hwa. Including the possibility of Cheon-hwa being a twin sister or just a fragment of an abandoned god.

A soft thud echoed in my chest.

‘Now, the acceptance or rejection of this relationship is entirely up to Yo-hwa.’

Our role was to accept whatever result came.

And to be a sincere conversation partner until the conclusion arrived.

“What’s strange? About what?”

“Infinite Void. My Outer God. Even though we're technically a Taoist sect, we were so focused on the concept of duality, like Christianity is with the Holy Trinity.”

The concept of duality.

White and black.

“Ah.”

Something clicked in my mind.

Seeing my face, Yo-hwa offered a bitter smile.

“So, if the nonexistent ‘sister’ went against White Flower High School's regulations to wear a black sailor uniform, it’s likely due to the father’s intentions.”

“Absurd.”

I couldn’t help but utter a low curse.

Cheon Yo-hwa's father, the cult leader, had even imposed his cultish rituals on the color of the uniforms his children wore.

With this realization, my own thought process became clearer.

"Infinite Void treats all things in the world as equal data fragments. It's a world where everything is equal. It can be seen as all things and space itself, whereas the Mastermind just conducts endless simulations, constantly arranging and rearranging these data fragments."

"Yes, it's the time when everything is realized."

"...For the Mastermind to hold meaning, it must gather as much data as possible. Conversely, for Infinite Void's data to become useful, as many simulations as possible must be run."

"Yes, only then does any flaw get resolved."

"The outcast god, in their view, attempts to mimic a 'world' that completely replaces our reality."

Yo-hwa nodded in agreement.

"I think they're complementary entities. To each other."

Beside me, Cheon-hwa kept her lips sealed. Yet, in her red eyes, there was the shimmer of a revelation, like a flickering candle.

The trio tagged as 'anomalies experts,' had reached the same conclusion.

"In that case, the names I’ve assigned to the outcast gods must also change."

"Yes, teacher. It might be that what I subdued wasn’t Infinite Void but…"

The Yang (陽) of the Taiji.

"And over there."

"…"

"What could be my supposed sister embraced and sealed wasn’t the Mastermind but…"

The Yin (陰) of the Taiji.

"From the beginning, they were one and two, outcast gods. Twins."

"…"

"Of course, I don't know exactly which my father designated as Yang and Yin. It can’t just be identified by colors, right? You remember the dots within the Taiji, don't you, teacher?"

"I'm aware."

☯. (Yin Yang symbol)

---TL NOTE: Idk how to better represent this in English so I'll just leave it to the original LLM representation for you to decipher yourself.---

A black dot in the center of white. A white dot in the center of black.

Such is a crucial symbol when drawing the Taiji, emphasizing they’re not only 'two' separated as black and white but 'one' pulling towards each other.

Yo-hwa giggled softly.

"So maybe that side was Yang, and mine was Yin. But anyway, seems like my father's plans failed, so who cares!"

"Does it?"

This was the conclusion of the answer.

The true name of the 'Infinite Void' entity that I first subdued in the 117th iteration was that of 'The Poles of Taiji.'

When arriving at the 1,003rd iteration, it was now fully uncovered.

‘Is it really this hard to properly name something?’

A vague sense of emotional fulfillment lingered.

While savoring this feeling, Yo-hwa withdrew her smile and looked at Cheon-hwa.

"I'm not ready to call you sister yet. Sorry."

"…"

"But if you truly were my sister, with a personality like the teacher described, you'd be more hurt if I called you sister without genuinely believing it. So, for now, bear a slightly less painful wound."

"…"

"If you are my sister, you submitted to the [Time Seal] knowing it would cause me pain. So handle it."

"…"

Cheon-hwa nodded slowly.

Then Yo-hwa smiled again.

"Instead, you can call me Yo-hwa for now."

"…Really?"

For the first time since the sisters' reunion, Cheon-hwa cautiously spoke.

"I might be an anomaly…"

"So there's a condition."

"A condition?"

"Yes, or rather a bet. Let’s make a game of it, if you’re willing."

A bet. A game.

They were words Cheon-hwa adored more than anything.

A play that siblings close in age, in particular, enjoy frequently.

"What's the bet?"

"I heard from the teacher. You intentionally made the day you were sealed the happiest memory to maintain your self-awareness."

"Yes."

"By kissing the teacher."

"…Yes."

Yo-hwa closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then she looked directly at her counterpart, who appeared exactly like her.

"Just once. I'll call you 'sister.'"

"…!"

"I'll believe in your story. I'll trust in the teacher’s belief. I will consciously—very diligently think you’re truly my lost sister and embrace your pain. Sincerely, I’ll call you ‘sister.’"

"Oh, um. That sounds good. Yes! Really good."

Cheon-hwa furrowed her brow.

"But why…?"

"…"

Yo-hwa's gaze became calm.

"I’m testing if you’ll become happy."

"Huh?"

"If you truly are my sister. Not merely mimicking her appearance but genuinely being my sister without a lurking 'real anomaly' in the recesses of your mind, you'll... have to be happy."

"…"

"You won't be able to help it."

Yo-hwa's eyes were steady, which made them more intimidating.

"The teacher, whom you love, has worked so hard for you. For you, and the sister you love, he’s dedicated his very life."

"…"

"No matter how many times this world repeats its demise, you'll never reach a scene like this again. Someone who guides this far—understands you—makes compromises this extensive—such a counterpart, family, can't be hoped for beyond this point."

"…"

"So when I call you 'sister,' you have to become happiest at that moment. More so than when you shared a spontaneous kiss with the teacher. Now, more. More. More. Happy."

Yo-hwa's red eyes narrowed.

"Do you disagree?"

"No, you’re right."

"Yes."

Yo-hwa declared firmly.

"So it's a contest. If, when I call you 'sister,' you become happier, and today becomes the 'day' during which you repeatedly spend at this graveyard, not that moment in the 688th iteration――"

"…I win."

"Yes. I’ll accept the fact you truly are my sister. But if, despite me calling you sister, the happiest moment remains that day in the 688th iteration with the teacher you shared a kiss—"

"…"

"You forget everything that happened between us today, and past midnight, if the repeated day persists as before."

"My loss."

“I won’t accept that you’re my sister. Ever.”

“……”

“Oh, teacher? I mean this as a true ‘forever.’ Even in the next iteration. Even when the iteration after that comes around, please don’t ever introduce me to my sister again.”

Yo-hwa smiled brightly.

“If she's someone who cherishes a kiss with the teacher more than the scene before us now, then it doesn’t matter to me if she’s not my sister.”

“……”

“So, what will you do? It’s up to you.”

Yo-hwa leaned on her hand.

“You don’t have to accept the challenge. In that case, I won’t see you as my sister, but… I can accept you as the teacher’s decent colleague. I’ll even call you Cheon-hwa. I’ll accept you calling me Yo-hwa too.”

“……”

“If you do accept the challenge, it’s only this once. There will be no second chances. Will you be my sister? Or will you be someone whose existence no one cares about, left to rot in the teacher’s absence?”

“……”

“You decide.”

Silence enveloped the room.

Yo-hwa’s proposal was quite an extraordinary idea, even from my perspective.

'...Unlike other seal bearers, Cheon-hwa has cherished the moment she was [Time Sealed] as her 'happiest memory.’’

‘It’s essentially facing the moment of the [Time Seal] every time she wakes up.'

That was Cheon-hwa’s ingenious move.

Repeating her happiest day while also holding onto the awareness of her own sealed time.

‘With such a trick, Cheon-hwa cleverly refreshed her day despite being sealed in time.’

‘Stacking memories with me. Accumulating slightly happier times, day by day.'

'Now Yo-hwa is using that same idea her twin sister did, demanding in return.'

How precious am I to you?

Is my call of ‘sister’ truly as precious as the kiss with the Undertaker you loved?

If so.

Don’t just say it, show proof.

“…….”

There was a long silence in the classroom until finally, Cheon-hwa, the strategist who lived as a mad gambler her whole life, started to lift her head.

In her gaze.

There was determination.

Chapter 24

A day passed.

“What do you think, teacher?”

For the day, the two of us had set up a tent on the roof of Babel Tower.

Just until a few days ago, we were isolated in the Infinite Void’s barrier at Baekhwa High School, spending our time together. It seemed that Yo-hwa was quite used to the current situation.

“Do you think she’ll truly accept the moment I called her ‘sister’ as the happiest of her days?”

“Well.”

I looked up at the night sky.

“There’s nothing closer to emptiness than a human’s heart. Unpredictable. Parts of it are unclear even to the person themselves. Some parts they don’t wish to know, and there are parts we willingly let fool us.”

“Ahaha. ...I think the same.”

“The truth is always a challenging word.”

A few hours earlier.

Cheon-hwa eventually accepted the challenge.

Similarly, Yo-hwa also embraced her, calling her ‘sister.'

Apologizing over and over for forgetting. For letting her sister be the only one sacrificed.

Tears fell down Cheon-hwa’s face.

“People often regard tears as a sign of sincerity, yet the truth is proven not by the moment but by the time that follows.”

“…Teacher, you spend so much time trying to prove your sincerity.”

“I’ve managed, thanks to your trust in me.”

I smiled.

“And I trust you both.”

“……”

“Even if your sisterly bond breaks beyond repair, it doesn’t matter. Life isn’t over. The lives of those bound by time seals haven’t truly ended either, and thanks to you sisters, I could learn this fact.”

To learn or not to learn from children.

Maybe that’s the mark of being an adult.

A phone started to ring on our makeshift table in front of the tent, one belonging to neither of us.

Midnight had arrived.

“…Teacher.”

“Yes.”

It was 12 AM. For most humans, it was the line that divides 'yesterday' from 'today.'

However, for the beings sealed in time within this tomb, it was merely the start of another identical day.

“Shall we go in?”

“…Yes.”

Yo-hwa was the first to take my hand. A slight tremor, a vivid sense of tension conveyed through her body heat.

Today she would either gain or lose a family member.

And, as per her request, whatever the outcome was, it would be permanently engraved.

Even if thousands of iterations were to repeat, there would not come another day where I would introduce Yo-hwa to her ‘sister.’

We stepped forward slowly.

"Whooo…"

A soft exhale resonated.

Just like in the 117th iteration, Yo-hwa, a lively orange-haired student council president, had followed me faithfully.

Back then, Yo-hwa was able to regain herself whom she had lost.

But this time was different. Instead of merely trailing behind her teacher (me), she had decided, creating a criterion everyone could agree upon, wagering herself under the guise of a 'bet.'

‘You’ve grown, Yo-hwa.’

No matter how unforgivingly the world met its fate nor how endlessly life seemed to cycle back.

Should there be a chance. Perhaps.

“I’ll open the door.”

“…Yes, teacher. Please.”

With a creaking sound, the door—visible and audible only to me—opened. A translucent tombstone that seemed to mirror, to simply reflect emptiness, revealed its interior.

What scene awaited beyond?

Under normal circumstances, upon seeing me enter first, Cheon-hwa would joyously exclaim, ‘Ah- Senior! Welcome! I knew you'd come!’ with a cheerful laugh.

For her, it would feel like only a moment ago we shared a kiss.

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Reveling in seeing everything go as she planned, she would exude confidence with a grin that practically begged to be playfully flicked on the forehead.

But.

“――Ugh.”

Even before the door had fully opened, Cheon-hwa was already in tears.

In the corner of the classroom, Cheon-hwa crouched silently behind a makeshift barrier of desks and chairs, tears streaming down her face. Upon realizing our entrance, she turned, her lips moving.

“Uh, ugh… ah, …uh. Ugh…”

“……”

Yet nothing meaningful escaped her lips.

She tried to speak, but all that came out were stifled sobs. Even as she attempted to suppress them, the sound persisted, the sobs compounding and sinking her voice into silence.

“I, I… someday… with you, senior… with Yo-hwa, too. The three of us. Ugh, the three of us…”

“……”

“But, but that… that's... impossible, isn’t it? It’s hard. Impossible… So even just with you, senior… I thought that was enough…”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Yo-hwa. I'm sorry…”

Yo-hwa walked over to her.

Generally, within this sealed graveyard of time, no one other than me should have moved freely. If they lost contact with me, they became wholly exposed to the void.

Yet, for some reason, Yo-hwa naturally let go of my hand, and I, inexplicably feeling it was alright, released her as well.

Step. Step.

Yo-hwa walked over and knelt down. Sitting at the same level, she extended her arms and hugged her sister tightly.

“I’m sorry, sister.”

She spoke softly.

“I’m sorry for forgetting.”

“……”

“Come back.”

Cheon-hwa’s cries echoed in the classroom.

The sealed one. The one who lost herself.

The only name of the magic or curse that could restart the halted time of the lost was happiness.